Buzz
You might recall our initial compilation of haunted destinations, where we explored some of the world's most renowned spooky sites. This new list features lesser-known but equally terrifying spots, including not just houses but also cemeteries and entire towns.
10. Babenhausen Barracks
The Babenhausen Barracks in Germany, now a museum, is said to be haunted by the spirits of German soldiers, some dressed in World War II uniforms. Reports include lights switching on and off by themselves, mysterious voices echoing from the basement, and unexplained footsteps and commands heard at night. Legend has it that if a soldier visiting the museum picks up a telephone, they might hear a woman speaking in reverse, in a language that is neither German nor English. The town also has a dark history of a witch burned at the stake in the 19th century, whose ghost is believed to have lured and killed several soldiers over the years. The image above shows two American soldiers at the barracks in 1974. [Wikipedia]
9. The Screaming Bridge
Maud Hughes Road in Liberty Township, Ohio, is infamous for numerous tragic accidents and suicides. The bridge, which stands 25 feet above railroad tracks, has been the site of at least 36 reported deaths. Witnesses have reported seeing ghostly apparitions, mysterious mists, strange lights, hooded figures, and even a phantom train. According to legend, a car carrying a couple broke down on the bridge. The man left to seek help, leaving the woman behind. Upon his return, he found her hanging from the bridge above the tracks. The man later died under mysterious circumstances. Many claim to hear ghostly conversations, followed by a woman’s scream and then a man’s. Another tale tells of a woman who threw her baby off the bridge before taking her own life. [Wikipedia]
8. 112 Ocean Avenue
Horror movie enthusiasts will instantly recognize this house, as it served as the inspiration for the film *The Amityville Horror*. Built in 1924, this six-bedroom Dutch Colonial-style home once featured distinctive quarter-circle windows on the third-floor attic, giving it a haunting, eye-like appearance. These windows have since been removed, and the house's address was changed to deter curious visitors. On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr., then 23 years old, murdered six members of his family in the house. During his 1975 trial, he claimed that voices in his head compelled him to commit the crimes. He was convicted and remains incarcerated in New York. In December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz bought the house and moved in with their three children. After just 28 days, they fled, citing terrifying paranormal experiences, including foul odors, apparitions at windows, unexplained screams, moving objects, and other strange occurrences. The image above shows the house as it stands today. [Wikipedia]
7. Pickens County Courthouse
The Pickens County Courthouse in Carrollton, Alabama, is renowned for a ghostly face visible in one of its windows. Legend attributes the image to Henry Wells, who was wrongly accused of burning down the town's original courthouse and lynched during a stormy night in 1878. The spectral face is clearly visible from certain angles, though it appears more defined from specific viewpoints. Interestingly, the image can only be seen from outside the courthouse; from inside, the window appears normal. To assist visitors, the city has installed a reflective highway sign with an arrow pointing to the pane, along with permanent binoculars across the street for a closer look. [Wikipedia]
6. Balete Drive
Balete Drive, located in New Manila, Quezon City, Philippines, is infamous for sightings of a white lady and haunted houses dating back to the Spanish Era (1800s). The area is rich in balete trees, which folklore suggests are favored by spirits and supernatural entities. Paranormal investigators believe the white lady is the ghost of a woman raped by Japanese soldiers during World War II. Locals warn drivers to avoid the street at night, especially when alone. If travel is unavoidable, they recommend ensuring the backseat is fully occupied and avoiding looking back or into mirrors. The apparition is described as wearing a nightgown, with long hair and either no face or one drenched in blood. [Wikipedia]
5. Rosenheim, Bavaria
The Rosenheim Poltergeist is one of Germany's most famous cases of supernatural activity. In 1967, strange events began plaguing the office of lawyer Sigmund Adam. Phones rang with no caller, photocopiers malfunctioned, and desk drawers opened on their own. A German newspaper installed monitoring equipment and recorded over 600 calls to the speaking clock in three months, despite all phones being unplugged. In one 15-minute span, 46 calls were logged, an impossible feat with the mechanical dialing system in use. In October 1967, all light bulbs in the building exploded simultaneously. Investigators discovered that the disturbances only occurred when 19-year-old secretary Annemarie Schneider was present. A hanging light would swing wildly as she walked beneath it, and lights flickered when she entered the office. The activity ceased during her vacation and resumed upon her return. After Schneider was dismissed, the phenomena stopped entirely. The image above shows Schneider beneath the swinging lights.
4. Bélmez de la Moraleda
A house on Street Real 5 in Bélmez de la Moraleda, Spain, has gained fame due to mysterious faces that frequently appear on its floors. These eerie images have turned the location into a hotspot for ghost enthusiasts, as they are easily photographed. The phenomenon began on August 23, 1971, when María Gómez Cámara noticed a face emerging on her kitchen's cement floor. Her husband destroyed it with a pickaxe, but another face soon appeared. Excavations beneath the house uncovered human remains, which were later removed. The image above captures one of the haunting faces.
3. 50 Berkeley Square
This London neighborhood, famous for the song A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, also houses the city's most haunted residence! Number 50 Berkeley Square is said to be inhabited by numerous ghosts, including a young girl murdered by a cruel servant in the 1700s. Her spirit is often spotted on the top floor, weeping and wringing her hands in anguish. Another ghost, a woman who fell from a window while fleeing her uncle, is frequently seen dangling from a windowsill. During the 1870s, when the house was empty, neighbors reported hearing screams, moans, furniture moving, bells ringing, and windows slamming shut. Later, a Mr. Dupre lived there and confined his mentally unstable brother to a top-floor room, feeding him through a door slot. This room is now considered the epicenter of the haunting. Today, the building houses a bookstore, and staff have reported strange occurrences. The top floor remains permanently locked and off-limits.
This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from the Wikipedia articles cited above.
2. Pluckley
Pluckley, a quaint village in Kent, England, is reputed to be the most haunted village in the country. Alongside its 12 (or some say 13 or 14) ghosts, it gained fame as the filming location for the TV show The Darling Buds of May. Among the spectral sightings are a ghostly highwayman and a phantom coach near the town hall, the spirit of a gypsy woman who died in a fire, two hanged bodies, a monk, three upper-class ladies, and the infamous Screaming Woods. Located just outside the village, the woods are said to be haunted by the lost souls of those who perished there, their screams echoing through the trees at night.
1. Union Cemetery
Union Cemetery in Easton, Connecticut, is widely regarded as the most haunted cemetery not only in the state but in the entire United States. Its most famous specter is the White Lady, who has been photographed and even captured on film. She is described as having long dark hair, wearing a bonnet and nightgown, and often appearing on Route 59 and Route 111, where she is sometimes “struck” by passing cars. In 1993, a fireman reported hitting her, hearing a thud, and finding a dent in his vehicle. He also claimed to see a farmer in a straw hat sitting beside him during the encounter. The cemetery is locked at night and monitored by police. The image above is one of many available online.
